Variable-speed mechanism.



G. L. GROHMANN'.- VARIABLE SPEED MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 7

Patented j July 13, 1909. 2 nEnTs-snn'r 1. $39.!

G. L. GROHMANN. VARIABLE SPEED MECHANISM. APPLIGATION FILED 17120.7,1908.

Patented July 13, 1909.

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CARL L. GROHMANN, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO PRATT & WHITNEY.

COMPANY, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATTON OF NEW JERSEY.

vnnmnnnsrnsn MECHANISM.

T 0 all whom it md"y** e0ncern.'

Be it known that I, CARL L. GROHMANN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Hartford, in the county of Hartford and" State'ofConnecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inVariable- Speed Mechanism, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to variable speed mechanism.

Variable speed mechanism embodying my invention can be advantageouslyput to many different uses; for instance in conjunction with or as apart of a grinding-machine, a metal-working machine or a Wood-workingmachine, these being only three specific examples .of the differentconnections in which said mechanism may be employed. As apart of themechanism is a rocker and it is one of the objects of the irivcntion toso mount and construct this rockerthat it shall be stable and that thereshall be no possibilityof straining the same when manipulated to effecta change in speed. This rocker or carrier presents an advantageoussupport for a gear element and also for a shifting device for said gearelement said shifting device be ing also substantially supported and inthe present case said rocker and shifting device grehoperated by ahandle common to them ot I In the drawings accompanying and forming partof the present specification I illustrate in detail one simple andeffective form 'of embodiment of the invention which to en able thoseskilled in the art to )ractice said invention will be fully disclosed inthe following description while the novelty of the invention will beincluded in the claims succeeding said description.

Referring to said drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation of variable seed mechanism comprising my invention. ig. 2 is a vertical sectionalview of the same. Fig. 3 is a section on the line 33 of Fig. 2-. Fig. isa detail view of'a shifting device as seen from the top thereof, and,Fig. 5 is a sectional side elevationof the forward end of said shiftingdevice the section being on the line 5,5, Fig. 4.- v

. The several figures of the drawings are on diiferent scales and in thesame like characters refer to like parts.

The framework for supporting the different parts of the apparatus may beof any suitable specification of Letters Patent.

mated July is, race.

Application filed December '7, 1908. Serial No. 286,274.

nature the particular construction thereof depending upon the type ofmachine in which said apparatus is incorporated. The framework shown isin the form of a hollow column or; upright 2 which inca'ses and therebyprotects the principal elements ofthe mechanism. I have not shown thecolumn for its complete height, only the intermediate por tion thereofbeing illustrated.

Preferably the pr mary or mam driving element of the mechanlsm consistsof a gear as 3 said gear being of barrel form or consisting of anelongated pinion represented keyed to the main shaft 4 represented asrotatively supported by bushings as 5 set in the opposite sides of thecolumn 2. Power may be applied to said main shaft in any desirablemanner no means for this, purpose being shownas the same does notconcern the present invention.

The shaft 4 serves as a su port or pivot for a yoke such as that denotein a general way by 6 although said yoke does not turn directly aroundsaid shaft being sustained in Y the bushings 5 to which I have referred.t

is not essential even that said shaft support said yoke although it ispreferable that the yoke turn about the same axis as that of said shaftWhether the latter be rotative or not. It will be thereforeapparent thatin the'-present case said rocker or yoke swings or turns about a fixedaxis which is advantageous though. not essential. The yoke 6 isrepresented as made up of two sides 7 and 8 and a connecting member 9shown as located at the rear of the column 2. This cross or connectingmember 9- 1s shown as of segmental or semi-circular form in crosssection by virtue of which it acts as a guard for said barrel pinion 3.The lever like yoke or rocker 6 is located within the column 2 and itssidearnis or branches preferably bear against the inner faces of theside walls of said column by reason of which it will be apparent thatsaid rocker or yoke has no lateral motion which is its preferablerelation although I do not re strict myself in this respect. In thepresent case the yoke or rocker has only a swinging motion and itpresents part of the means whereby changes in speed are effected. In aspeed c 'anging mechanism with which I am familiar there is a swinginglever or rocker which is supported by a shaft for such swinging motionand said lever or rocker also has a lateral or transverse movement. In alever sion may require ,or particular conditions of use demand thispoint not being a matter of binding when shifting power is appliedthereto. On the arm'16 l have shown a slight thus mounted it isessential that the same be provided With a very long bearing toWithstand thestrain of the side motion thereof. As I state I support myrocker'preferably for rocking motion only and in this manner avoid theuse of such a long bearing. My rocker or lever sustains a gear elementor equivalent device and it is necessary that this gear element or itsanalogous part be shifted transversely of my. said rocker or lever. Thisaction in the'pre'sent case, however, is not obtained by the'lateralmotion of my lever but by a separate part as will hereinafter a pear.The siaft '10 in addition to serving as a strut or tie element alsoconstitutes in the present instance a support for a gear as 12 which isrefer-ably at all times in mesh with the barre pinion 3. This gear 12serves as a suitable power-transferring element, for ap plying theeffect of said barrel pinion to any one of the sections or portions ofacone gear as 13 the latter presenting a suitable type of driven memberwhile the barrel pinion pre' sents a suitable type of driving member thepinion 12 being intermediate the two. The cone gear 13 is shown ascarried by a shaft 14 supported by the column 2 and it may be loose onsaid shaft or keyed thereto as occaoonsequence.

The gear 1.2 is movable into position to en gage the respective sectionsof the cone gear 13 by a compound motion participated in by a rocker orlever such as that'described and also by a suitable member supported bysaid rocker which member may consist of a slide as 15 and whichpreferably shifts the gear 12 bodily and laterally of said rocker. Theslide 15 is shown as supported by the forward shaft 11 its inoven'ientthereon being sufficient to put the gear 12 into mesh with any of thesections of said cone gear 13. From the sleeve-like body of said slide15 there is shown as cxtemling rearwardly or inwardly an arm 16 whichpreferably has a sliding connection with the shaft 10. In the presentcase the operator or attendant of the machine grasps the slide 15 of apart thereof to rock or oscillate the rocker 6 and to alsoshift saidslide on said rocker as occasion may reuire. 'lhisparticular relation isnot essential although I prefer to em loy a handle or similar partcommon to both the rocker and slide or similar elements of whatevernature they may be. Owing to the fact that tho slide has a connci-tionwith the'rockcr at the rear of the point of support thereof there is nopossibility of the slide being blocked or projection 17 while from thebody of said slide there PI'OjUUl/S an arm 18 coi'iperative with saidprojection the two parts presenting in efiect a fork and receivingbetween them freely the intermediate gear 12. By the rocking or swingingof the rocker 6 and the simultaneous lateral motion of the slide 15 Imayput the gear 12 into mesh With any one of the sections of the conegear 13 and thisoperation can be accomplished with ease and facility.All the parts are thoroughly braced and strengthened and the possibilityof straining or distorting any of them is practically eliminatedalthough I retain a comparatively long leverage.

Means are preferably provided forpositively holding the yoke 6 in anadjusted position and the same are preferably though not necessarily,directly associated with the slide 15 as will now appear. The slide 15is shown as rovided with a curved extension 19 projecting through a dieonally-disposed slot 20 in the front of the co umn. Said extension isrepresented as terminating in a barrel or sleeve 21 which slidablyreceives a plunger as 23 represented as equipped with an operating head24 for retracting said plunger against the advancing action of a socket26 is adapted to interchangeably receive the )ins or studs 27, thelowermost of said pins itting in said socketin Figs. 1 and 2 at whichtime the gear 12 will be in mesh with the section of least diameter ofthe cone gear 13, the consequence being that the said cone gear isdriven at its highest speed. To get the next speed which is one grade ordegree slower the plunger is disenga ed from said lowermost pin by aback pull on the same, the rocker (3 and slide 15 then being sorelatively operalcd that the next higher pin 27 will enter said socket.This can bc do'ue to obtain the other two speeds, the next two higherpins or studs 27 being successively brought into action at such times.The

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plunger 23 also holds the slide 15 in an adpistcd position. The sleeveor barrel 2]. in addition to serving as a convenient means for receivingthe spring )lunger 23 also presents a very convenient handle foroperating both the yoke 6 and the gear shifting slide 15. I thereforeprovide a swinging yoke or rocker and a slide thereou'for shifting agear in combination with a handle or analogous device common to both theyoke and slide and in the present instance this handle forms a rigidpart of the slide although this is not essential. The advantage of asingle handle is clearly a parent. In using the term handie I intern toinclude thereby various manually operable devices whereby the functionsof the rocker and slide to effect changes in speed can be secured by anattendant.

It is conceivable that the sleeve or body ortion of the'slide15 might bekeyed to the front shaft '11, we matter of fact said sleeve isnon-rotatively connected with said shaft the preferable relation. Owingto the fact that the holding device for maintaining the adjustments ofthe rocker and slide is carried by a part of, said slide which is removably connected with means on the frame work, it is clear that werethe slide 15 simply keyed to the shaft 11 there would be a tendency, dueto gear thrusts and from other causes to turn the sleeve like body ofsaid slide 15 on said; shaft 11. In view of the presence of the arm 16this is not possible. Said arm 16 extends to and has asliding connectionwith the shaft 10 so that in practice any tendency to turn the slide onthe said front shaft is effectually resisted by the shaft 10 inconnection with the inwardlyeic tendin arm 16 the latter serving as asubstantia anchoring member to prevent oscillation or rocking motion ofthe slide 15. In view of this condition there is no possibility of theplunger 23 being bent or broken.

that I claim is: 1. Variable speed gearing comprising an elongatedpinion, a rocker supported for oscillation about the axis of saidpinion, a gear in mesh at all times with said pinion, supported formovement transversely of sa d rocker, a shifting device for said gearalso su orted for movement transversely of all times with said pinion, aslide supported by the rocker for movement. transversely .thereof andprovided with means for shifting said gear, and a handle common to therocker and slide for moving either-of them.

'in-mesh at a 3. Variable speed gearing comprising a rotary inion, arocker supported for oscillation a out the axis of said pinion andprovided with two shafts forward of its center of oscillation, ,a gearsupported for slidin movement b the rear one of said shafts an ll timeswith said pinion, a slide for shifting said gear, supported by theforward one of said shafts, and an arm connecting said slide with therear shaft and having a sliding connection with the latter.

4. Variable speed mechanism comprising an elongated pinion, a rockersuppdrted for oscillation about the axis of said )inion, a gear in meshat all times with saiii pinion, and a shifting device for the gearsupported by said rocker for movement transversely thereof.

5. Variable speed mechanism comprising a barrel pinion, a rocker sup'orted for oscillation about thelaxis'of S8.l( pinion, a gear in mesh atall times with said pinion, a shifting device for said gear, supportedby andmovable transversely of said; rocker, and-a cone gear the sectionsof which are adapted to be intermeshed with said first mentioned gear'bythe joint action of said rocker and shif ting device.

6. Variable speed mechanism comprising a rocker, a barrel inion, saidrocker being supported for oscil ation about the axis of. said pinion, agear toslide transversely of and on said rocker and in mesh at all timeswith said barrel pinion, a slide supported by and movable transverselyof said rocker for shifting said ear sidewise thereon, a handle commonto t e rocker and the slide for oscillating the rocker or shifting saidslide, and a cone gear the sections of which are adapted to beinter-meshed with said first mentioned ear by the joint action of saidrocker and lide.

W. M. S'roRns, ll. W. I\III.I.MUI.NE.'

